Fully updated in reference to the latest construction standards and new building types . Sustainable design fully integrated into each chapter . Over 100,000 copies sold to successive generations of architects and designers – this book truly belongs on every design office desk and drawing board.

ABSTRACT

• Significantly updated in reference to the latest construction standards and new building types
• Sustainable design integrated into chapters throughout
• Over half of the entire book has now been updated since 2022
• Over 100,000 copies sold to successive generations of architects and designers
• This book belongs in every design office.

The Metric Handbook is the major handbook of planning and design data for architects and architecture students, with over 100,000 copies sold to successive generations of architects and designers. It remains the ideal starting point for any project and belongs in every design office.

The seventh edition references the latest regulations and construction standards and includes new chapters on data centres and logistics facilities alongside basic design data for all the major building types. For each building type, the book gives the basic design requirements and all the principal dimensional data, and succinct guidance on how to use the information and what regulations the designer needs to be aware of.

As well as buildings, the Metric Handbook deals with broader aspects of design such as materials, acoustics, and lighting, and general design data on human dimensions and space requirements. The Metric Handbook is the unique reference for solving everyday planning problems.

About the Author:

Pamela Buxton is a freelance architecture and design journalist. She has contributed to many architecture and design publications including RIBA Journal, Architects’ Journal and Building Design. She was the editor of 50 Architects 50 Buildings, published by Batsford in 2016.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1|13 pages	Design information and dimensional coordination
Chapter 2|14 pages	People and space
Chapter 3|12 pages	People and movement
Chapter 4|11 pages	Access and inclusion
Chapter 5|8 pages	Capital and whole life costs of buildings
Chapter 6|23 pages	Structure
Chapter 7|35 pages	Materials
Chapter 8|37 pages	Thermal environment
Chapter 9|12 pages	Light
Chapter 10|17 pages	Sound
Chapter 11|35 pages	Fire Safety
Chapter 12|13 pages	Flood-aware design
Chapter 13|5 pages	Crime prevention design
Chapter 14|21 pages	Agricultural buildings
Chapter 15|39 pages	Auditoria
Chapter 16|15 pages	Civic buildings
Chapter 17|4 pages	Community centres
Chapter 18|15 pages	Emergency services
Chapter 19|32 pages	Hospitals
Chapter 20|18 pages	Hotels
Chapter 21|28 pages	Houses and flats
Chapter 22|11 pages	Housing for older people
Chapter 23|14 pages	Housing for students and young people
Chapter 24|8 pages	Industrial facilities
Chapter 25|12 pages	Industrial storage buildings
Chapter 26|29 pages	Laboratories
Chapter 27|17 pages	Libraries
Chapter 28|19 pages	Masterplanning and landscaping
Chapter 29|9 pages	Museums, art galleries and temporary exhibition spaces
Chapter 30|16 pages	Offices
Chapter 31|10 pages	Payment and counselling offices
Chapter 32|24 pages	Places of worship
Chapter 33|19 pages	Primary Health Care
Chapter 34|28 pages	Restaurants and foodservice facilities
Chapter 35|15 pages	Retail shops and stores
Chapter 36|15 pages	Schools
Chapter 37|13 pages	Security and counter-terrorism
Chapter 38|50 pages	Sports facilities: indoor and outdoor
Chapter 39|25 pages	Streets and spaces for people and vehicles
Chapter 40|4 pages	Studios for sound and vision
Chapter 41|28 pages	Transport terminals and interchanges
Chapter 42|24 pages	Tropical design
Chapter 43|17 pages	Universities